Malaysia's kabaddi team lose all four group games but improve steadily at the Asian Games
Malaysia's men lost all four group games in Aichi, but their points rose from 22 to 52 by the time they faced Nepal.
Malaysia's men's kabaddi team are out of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after losing all four Group B matches. The scores do show clear progress, though. They scored 22 points in their first game and 52 in their last, which is a positive sign for a sport that is still growing in Malaysia.
All kabaddi matches are being played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Tokai, Aichi Prefecture. Ten nations are in the men's competition and eight in the women's.
Malaysia's results
Here are Malaysia's four matches, based on reports from Dawn, the Pro Kabaddi League's live blogs and OnlineKhabar:
| Opponent | Result |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | Lost 22-65 (half-time 11-38) |
| Thailand | Lost 23-65 |
| Iran | Lost 33-67 |
| Nepal | Lost 52-73 (half-time 21-37) |
The first match against Pakistan was very one-sided. Dawn reported that Pakistan scored 10 all-out points, which in kabaddi are bonus points for eliminating the whole opposing team. Thailand also won easily. Iran, one of the strongest kabaddi nations, scored 67 points against Malaysia, but Malaysia scored 33, a clear step up.
The last match, against Nepal on Thursday, 24 September, was Malaysia's best. They trailed 21-37 at half-time, but after the break they almost matched Nepal, losing the second half by only five points, 31-36. OnlineKhabar called it a "consolation" win for Nepal, who had also lost their first three games.
The goal was the podium
Malaysia went to Japan with high hopes. On 10 September, RTM reported that the squad had trained for three months, two of them in Melaka, and that coaches cut 15 candidates down to 12 players.
"We've trained for three months, two of those in Melaka. From 15 players, we've finalized 12. Our goal is achieving a podium finish at the Asian Games," said player Devinthirakumaar Vijayan Kumaran.
The team had also named Iran and India as their main rivals for a medal. The group results showed how far Malaysia still is from the top teams in the sport.
What kabaddi is
Kabaddi comes from South Asia and is a contact team sport. It combines tag and wrestling. A "raider" crosses into the other team's half, tries to touch defenders and get back safely, and has to keep chanting "kabaddi" on one breath while doing it. The defenders try to tackle the raider before they return.
Semi-finals today, finals tomorrow
Semi-finals are on today, 25 September, with the top two from each group going through. India, the defending champions in both the men's and women's events, have already qualified in both. Their men topped Group A after beating Chinese Taipei 37-21.
The Group B results also included an upset: Thailand beat Pakistan 48-45. Pro Kabaddi's schedule has both gold medal matches on Saturday, 26 September.
Something to build on
Losing all four games is disappointing given the team's podium goal. But more than doubling their points against Asian opposition within a week is progress. Malaysia's next challenge is getting more regular international matches, so the gap to teams like Iran and Pakistan gets smaller before the next Games.
Key takeaways
- Malaysia lost all four Group B matches, to Pakistan, Thailand, Iran and Nepal.
- Their points rose each game: 22, 23, 33, then 52 against Nepal.
- The squad had aimed for a podium after three months of preparation, including two months in Melaka.
- Semi-finals are today and both finals are on 26 September. India are defending champions in both events.
FAQ
Did Malaysia win a kabaddi match at the Asian Games 2026? No. The men lost all four group games. Their closest was a 52-73 loss to Nepal.
Where is kabaddi being played at Aichi-Nagoya? At the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Tokai, Aichi Prefecture.
Who are the defending Asian Games kabaddi champions? India, in both the men's and women's events.
Sources: Dawn, Pro Kabaddi League, OnlineKhabar, RTM (Berita RTM), Wikipedia